8/2(2+2) = ?

[owned]

The answer is that it's ambiguous. Had you written a ÷ sign, we could've just used PEMDAS, and went on our way. But the fact that you used the slash makes this question a little different. The / is just a representation on the computer (since you cannot write one on the computer without special software) of a horizontal fraction bar. Now when we write it out on paper, it's obvious what's under the fraction and what's over the fraction. But when you write it out on a computer, you need to be more careful, as it isn't readily obvious what numbers are specifically in the fraction, and what numbers are outside of them. That's why it's important to be careful in this situation and use parenthesis.

The best way to type this would be (8/2)(2+2) or 8/(2(2+2)), depending on which equation you were trying to represent.

[apparition]

÷ and / are not the same.

8/2(2+2) = 1
8÷2(2+2) = 16

Agreed with Woned... Though, I realize maybe this is subject to the ambiguity, but if you look at what a / means, it means everything that follows it goes underneath...

[Cody <3]

÷ and / are not the same.

8/2(2+2) = 1
8÷2(2+2) = 16

Agreed with Woned... Though, I realize maybe this is subject to the ambiguity, but if you look at what a / means, it means everything that follows it goes underneath...

Not 100% true.


8/2(2+2) does not mean its a fraction problem.


÷ and / are indeed the same thing both are indicating that the number is being divided by an integer(not an equation)
for it to be a fraction problem it has to be written like 8/[2(1+2)]

8/2(2+2)=/=1

does not equal one,

a/b(x+y)=/= a/[b(x+y)]

Also this will clear some things up

8/2(a+a)=1

if you work that problem out, you actually get that

a= 1/8th

8/2(1/8th+1/8th)=1

now notice how that isn't 2+2

and yes you can read 1/8th as 1 divided by 8

but when we do 8/2(a+a)=16

we get that a=2

which proves that this equation only has one answer and its 16.

Also when it comes to prioritizing that a(b)=a*b=ab=(a)(b), most of the time physics students will argue "ab" does not equal the multiplication of a & b but indeed it is. Also another argument is that a(b) is greater then any other problem first in the equation because of the (b) is in parentheses indeed it is, an integer has found itself in parentheses, but when its just an integer parentheses has no value of priority. I mean in this example, 1+(-3)+(10/2), which one would you do first? would you try to take the (-3) out just because its in parentheses ? No you wouldn't.

now when it gets to the problem 8/2(4)

Some students use juxtaposition to eliminate the final parentheses, which indeed is a good argument, but a big miss interpret in juxtaposition is that the integers by eachother must be multiplied first, which isn't true.

Also heres a fun fact, because its only addition in the parentheses this problem can be wrote like this also

(8/2)*4

which using basic PEMDAS you get 16.

[Olive]

is it:

(8/2)(2+2) =16

or

8/(2(2+2)) =1

I OUTWITTED OWNED YAY!

[INW]

It depends.

If you are tying to show:

8 divided by 2(2+2), then the answer is 1

If you are trying to 8 divided by 2 times (2+2), then the answer is 16.

hard to tell what you are actually representing in that incorrectly draw expression.

8
-------
2(2+2)

or

8
-- * (2+2)
2

You can't really tell if you want that division to go to the rest of the equation.

Judging by the look of it, you want to do parenthesis first -> 8/2(4). Then it you can just do division or multiplication or order from left to right. 8/2 = 4 times 4 equals 16.

I OUTWITTED YOU ALL. MUAHAHAHAHAHA.

[Mecca]

I OUTWITTED YOU ALL. MUAHAHAHAHAHA.

Not really; you aren't clever, you are just sharper on your basic math.

[owned]

Tbh, PEMDAS is an incredibly silly thing that is rarely used outside of the middle school classroom. In more advanced math, things are done to make it clear exactly what is being said.

Still, I back up my earlier comment that it is ambiguous. The / symbol is just a representation on a keyboard of a fraction bar, just like ÷ is the division sign. The two symbols mean the same when they have the same dividend and divisor, but like I've said, because of what the / sign is, it is unclear what the divisor would be when using the / sign.

One point of mathematical notation is that it's supposed to make it obvious what the question is saying. It works beautifully with pencil and paper. The problem comes when you try to bring the same notation online. As seen by the sheer amount of different results, there are multiple ways to interpret it.

That's why there are programs like Latex that let you represent equations just like you can write them out on paper. It's there to take away ambiguity without using loads of parenthesis.

@olive/appa I didn't read the topic before I posted. I guess you both tied me

[Jonathan]

Still, I back up my earlier comment that it is ambiguous. The / symbol is just a representation on a keyboard of a fraction bar, just like ÷ is the division sign. The two symbols mean the same when they have the same dividend and divisor, but like I've said, because of what the / sign is, it is unclear what the divisor would be when using the / sign.

My understanding is that / simply loses its operand-picking ability, and acts just like multiplication or ÷, at least by default. But yeah, use parentheses, or define what you're doing. If you keep this guy happy, you're on the right track.

[INW]

My math teacher told me that the "/" and "()" are grouping symbols.

Using "/" to represent division is "incorrect". Calculators do that because it is their only representation of division, even though it is "incorrect".

Essentially when Mecca has done here is group two things together.

8 and 2 -> /
2 and 2 -> ()

By grouping the two with the symbols, parenthesis is done to get 4. The 8 and the 2 are grouped by themselves as the "/" symbol suggests. You cannot take those two apart as you could not with the (2+2).

Either way, "/" doesn't necessarily represent division but in this case let's say it does as we can infer that.

Because of grouping, the problem says (8/2)(2+2). The parenthesis is understood because grouping says so. That is why google adds the parenthesis.

So this problem does not read 8/[2(2+2)]. It reads (8/2)(2+2).

[Mecca]

Using "/" to represent division is "incorrect". Calculators do that because it is their only representation of division, even though it is incorrect.

Fixed!

[INW]

Already fixed it before you posted.

[Mecca]

Already fixed it before you posted.

You have no proof.

[INW]

LIES! You are on TS with ME!
I DON"T NEED PROOF, I'M GAREN!

Jokes aside.

There changed to Their = The Calculators'

[Cody <3]

Tbh, PEMDAS is an incredibly silly thing that is rarely used outside of the middle school classroom. In more advanced math, things are done to make it clear exactly what is being said.

You're kidding right?

÷ and / are not the same.

8/2(2+2) = 1
8÷2(2+2) = 16

Agreed with Woned... Though, I realize maybe this is subject to the ambiguity, but if you look at what a / means, it means everything that follows it goes underneath...

you saying you would read

4/2+10/2 as


4
-----
2+10/2

lul

[Jonathan]

He's saying real mathematicians write (1/2)x or 1/(2x) to avoid this semi-ambiguous case. They have better things to do than fiddle with notation. Fortunately, most other rules are more helpful, so there's no need to resort to Lisp either.

(Positive trolling still accepted?)